A homeschool portfolio is a collection and keepsake of samples of your students’ work, assignments, grade records, and reading lists over the course of their homeschool year. These are normally kept in a 3 ring binder, but can also be done digitally. I like to store samples of art work, extra curricular activities, and collect brochures and hand outs from nature classes or field trips that you have taken.
A portfolio serves as a record keeping tool, but is also fun to look back on each year and see how your children have progressed. Some states have homeschool laws that require you to keep a portfolio for a certain amount of years and you can be called on to have that portfolio of work reviewed, so it is important to always have that up to date.
Depending on your state laws and reporting, you may have the option to either have your student tested with a standardized test, or evaluated by a certified teacher. You can find out your state’s homeschool laws on the HSLDA website.
Since we homeschool at our own pace and have some learning disabilities, I have opted out of testing my children. Instead, I am able to have their portfolio evaluated and “signed off” by a local homeschool mother who has a teaching license. This is so helpful and eases a lot of stress for a child that has testing anxiety.
If you aren’t very organized, or you wait until the end of the school year to get your portfolio in order, this can be pretty stressful. Ask me how I know! I have nightmares of piles and piles of papers for FOUR children that I have had to sort through. This panic escalates when you are trying to get ready for an end of the year portfolio review date. With just a little planning and weekly or monthly preparation throughout the school year, you can have your portfolio ready for a review without the added stress and last minute scrambling.
Also, be sure to grab this FREE End-of-Year Homeschool Checklist!
Here are some FREE printables and resources to help you get ready for your child’s portfolio review:
Printable Homeschool Record Forms – attendance form and physical education form – Thought Co.
2018-2019 Homeschool Binder Portfolio Printables – Homeschool On
Homeschool Day Planner and Portfolio – Just Mommies
Printable Portfolio Bundle – Homeschool.com
Charlotte Mason Themed Homeschool Student Portfolio – Talking Mom 2 Mom
Homeschool Student Portfolio Binder – Talking Mom 2 Mom
Homeschool Helper Online has a lot of printable resources that would work well in a homeschool portfolio.
Homeschool Organization Forms – 123 Homeschool 4 Free
The Homeschool Un-Planner Printables – Intentional Homeschooling
We have created a Portfolio Review Checklist to help you put together your portfolio. You can check off each item as you add it to your binder to make sure you haven’t forgotten any important information. Click HERE to grab this as an instant download!
If you use Homeschool Planet in your homeschool you will be thrilled to know that you can create a homeschool portfolio in just a few clicks with their amazing features! Find out more in this article on Easy Homeschool Portfolios with Homeschool Planet.
If you use Time 4 Learning in your homeschool they have an automated system that grades lessons and keeps reports for your student portfolios. All the work is done for you! Find out more about Homeschool Portfolio Evaluations and how easy they are with Time 4 Learning.
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Sarah is a wife, daughter of the King and Mama to 4 children (one who is a homeschool graduate)! She is a an eclectic, Charlotte Mason style homeschooler that has been homeschooling for over 16 years now. She is still trying to find the balance between work and keeping a home and says she can only do it by the Grace of God, and Coffee!
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